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Book Reviews 51 Books reviewed in the Asbury Seminarian may be ordered from the Seminary Bookstore, Wilmore, Kentucky. Moses, by Sholem Asch. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1951. 505 pages. $3.75. The reviewer of this book was privileged recently to have a profitable conference with Sholem Asch in his apartment at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel. Even though this author has arrived at the point where he is eligible for membership in the Three Score Years and Ten Club, he is still mentally alert and aggressive. His new book on Isaiah is to come from the press soon. Most inspiring in this visit was the author's expressed belief that Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah prophetically presented m the Old Testament. He intimated that traditional Jewry in Israel had expressed hostility because of his viewpoint in this regard. Those of us who met with him could not help feeling that here was indeed a "true son of Abraham" and that he was of "kindred mind and spirit in the Lord." This novel on Moses is Sholem Asch's most recent presenta tion of the stalwart Old Testament character. This book is destined to take its place along with the author's other works, including The Nazarene, The Apostle, and Mary. "Delving deep into the roots held in common by much of the world today, it is a noble story, fused with the vigor, insight and imagination of a writer who has devoted years to its re-creation." Moses is first presented as the young noble in the royal court of Egypt. Despite his official tie, his sympathies are with the slaves. His deep curiosity about his birth and the Hebrews in Goshen take him upon journeys of investigation. Upon finding his own people, his decision to unite with them is made. His own people are sus picious of him and for a long time he is looked upon as a spy from Pharoah's court. During his exile in Midian Moses marries Jethro's daughter but his thoughts are never far away from his people in Goshen. Finally, Jehovah appears to him in the burning bush. "We watch 50 The Asbury Seminarian Moses, fearful of his mission but subservient to Jehovah's will, growing in strength and wisdom as he is confronted with one crucial test after another." Most vividly dramatic are these scenes: Moses before Pha- roah, the people crossing the Dead Sea, and Moses shepherding the people on the desert in the face of starvation. While Moses meets with Jehovah on the Mount the mixed multitude initiate the wor ship of the golden calf. "In his portrait of Moses, Sholem Asch shows us human grandeur, against a tapestry of superbly conceived original color and movement." Baalem is presented as a most colorful old man, almost blind, selling figurines and riding around on an ass while he urges the people to desert Moses and his God in favor of the nature gods of Egypt. Mr. Asch has captured inspiration and insight on Moses that make this book a "must" for the reading public in general and for the religiously minded people in particular. H. A. Hanke Mountains Singing, by Sanna Barlow. Chicago: Moody Press, 1952. 352 pages. $3.00. The pastor who is looking for faith-stimulating reading for himself and for his parishioners will find an answer in this record of a chain of miracles. For fourteen months, Joy Ridderhof, Direc tor of Gospel Recordings, Inc., Los Angeles, California, and Ann Sherwood pioneered among the unreached tribes of the mountain ous Philippines, making gospel recordings in ninety-two languages, seventy-three of which are in unwritten tribal dialect. The messages on tape were then sent to the California headquarters and after processing, the "preaching plates" and hand-wind "talking boxes" were returned to the respective language groups. There is a good deal of adventure in this book. The intrepid pioneers encountered mountains of difl&culties, but their faith and fortitude, which sprang from a steady walk with God and implicit trust in His promises, always brought them through as conquerors. Their constant problem in their efforts to find key persons to trans late and record for them adds the element of suspense as the reader follows them from place to place. Devotionally, the book is en riching. Book Reviews 51 The author, Sanna Morrison Barlow, is the daughter of the late Judge J. Stanley Barlow. A graduate of Eastern Tennessee State College, she was greatly influenced by the late Robert Mc- After the Quilkm. Southern Presbyterian Board for health reasons refused her application for foreign work, she found her place of service with Gospel Recordmgs. In a very readable and interestmg style, she has captured the spirit of these two stalwarts of the faith and lets it shine through the pages of the book. Susan Schultz Faith and Justification, by G. C. Berkouwer. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1954. 201 pages. $3.00. No theologian today can expect to be heard if he ignores the contemporary demand for relevance in theological studies. In these "unquiet times" when many are inquiring into the relationship man may sustain to God, it is especiaUy timely that the cardinal doctrine of the Reformation be examined afresh. Berkouwer has shown in this volume under review that three factors have set the doctrine of justification in the very center of current theological interest, namely, "the rise of dialectical the ology, the renewed conflict with Rome, and the revived study of Luther" (p. 17). In examining anew the struggle of the Reformers to set forth the way of salvation�"the ordo salutis"�Berkouwer is convinced that doctrinal heresy always invades theology at the point of the "correlation between faith and justification." Only as men hold firmly to sola fide and sola gratia can the threats of "Pelagianism, semi-Pelagianism, synergism, humanism, Arminianism, and even Roman Catholic dogma" be overcome (p. 33). In reconsidering the whole controversy between Reforma- tional and Tridentine theology, our author recognizes that while Rome and the Reformers had more in common than both realized, yet it was only around the relation between man's faith and God's justifymg grace where their differences could possibly be resolved. In facing up to the implications of the sola fide doctrine, Berkouwer weighs the principal objections raised against it as found in such Scriptural teachings as the "Judgment according to works; The idea of reward in Scripture; and. Justification according to 52 The Asbury Seminarian James." In each instance our author is confident that consistent with his theology Calvin handled these problems aright, even though Luther fumbled in interpreting the correlation between Paul's doctrme of faith and James' teaching on works. For Berk ouwer, there is perfect harmony between these two emphases in the New Testament when seen in their fullest contexts. This Dutch theologian sees two special threats to the gospel: Arminianism and antinomianism. The former seems to condition God's will both by history and the works of individual men, while the latter destroys the vital relation between time and eternity and God's "decisive invasion of history." What is the value of faith in this important correlation which exists between justification and faith? Our author's answer is not easily stated. Since faith is the "gift of God," it is something which "lives and moves whoUy from and in grace" (p. 175). It cannot be called a condition for salvation (justification), although the Reform ers did speak of it as an instrument, but in no way as to touch the sovereignty of grace by which it is bestowed. Anything which savors of achievement, merit, worthiness, works or a conditional factor in faith must be rejected. Faith is utter surrender to sovereignty, a correlation of a concrete human act (roused by the Holy Spirit), with sovereign action. In the last analysis, afl&rms Berkouwer, this correlation between faith and justification involves a relationship which is unique and ultimately mysterious. While recognizing the merit of this book in sharpening afresh the great struggle through which the Reformers passed in order to preserve the sola fide-sola gratia message, yet it still faUs short of satisfactorily relating sovereignty and free will, the Divine claims and the human responsibility in meeting those claims, in the Divine- human set-up. It is difficult for this reviewer to see how this book preserves the "whosoever will" of the Gospel in the face of its com mitment to sovereign election in the realm of salvation as well as in the sphere of service. Nor can he see that Arminianism poses as great a threat to the gospel as Dr. Berkouwer supposes! For a relevant, fresh and stimulating presentation of Reformed theology in a form that reaUy challenges its rivals, here is a book ministers would do weU to read. Book Reviews 53 Glimpses, by John Lakin Brasher. Cincinnati: The Revivalist Press, 1954. 97 pages. $1.00. There a is group of men and women among the Soldiers of the Cross who found an especial fellowship in their leadership in the Camp Meeting movement of the past century, and whose special contribution to the Christian world lay m their advocacy of the Wesleyan doctrine of Christian Perfection. Some of these who have to their passed reward live in the memories of many of us; others might be little more than names to us, had not a veteran of their company brought together in this volume a coUection of living memories of them. In Glimpses, Dr. Brasher has preserved a price less collection of biographical data and of more personal anecdotes from their lives.
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